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34 Catholic Coaching Flag Football Essentials
offense doesn’t get past the 20-yard line and two points if it doesn’t get past the 10-yard line. After a team advances past the 20-yard line, or after three plays, switch offense and defense, rotating players to maintain the offensive advantage.
To make the game easier:
(^) Widen the area to 30 yards. (^) Play 4 v 2 or 5 v 3.
To make the game harder:
(^) Play 2 v 2 or 3 v 3. (^) Make the field 15 yards wide and/or 30 yards deep.
Figure 2.3 Air Ball.
Air Ball (continued)
10 yards
20 yards
QB
10 yards
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DB
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running Game
In flag and touch football, the running game is secondary because blocking is restricted and the number of line players is limited. Figure 2.4 shows a few plays that will help you open up a defense and make the players respect the run instead of just sitting back waiting for you to pass. The rules of flag and touch football do not permit double teams or two-on-one blocking. In tackle football, you must develop an effective running game. The most important step is to design plays in which the blocking and back-
Tactics and Skills 35
Figure 2.4 Two schemes for running plays in flag and touch football: ( a ) end sweep and ( b ) up the middle.
C
SR
WR SR WR
QB
BB BB
NT DE
LB
FS SS CB
DE
CB
C
SR
WR SR WR
QB
BB BB
NT DE
LB
FS (^) SS CB
DE
CB
a.
b.
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field action work together. The backfield action on any play must be designed to put the running back at the point of attack just as the hole is opening. Three types of blocks can help accomplish this: fast or quick blocking on straight-ahead plays, fold blocking on slower-hitting plays, and power blocking on sweeps. Figure 2.5 shows examples of the three types of blocking. You should also set up the running game so that it is effective and easy to communicate. The simplest way to communicate running plays is to number each hole and back. Figure 2.6 shows how to do this in tackle football. The running back runs the ball into the hole that is called. For
Tactics and Skills 37
In developing a running game, you should consider different series of plays that can all be successful. All series should include built-in dimension—that part of a given series that provides for variation of backfield movement. Dimension makes it difficult for the defense to determine the point of attack when the ball is snapped. This forces the defense to respect your entire attack. An example of a series is a dive 30 and a trap 30. These both involve the number 3 back running through the hole right in the center of the line, but the back gets there by differ- ent actions and the blocking is different. The running game should give you the opportunity to run the foot- ball in every offensive hole. By incorporating series of plays, you’ll be able to run the various holes in more than one way. The game plan, however, should include only four or five running plays chosen from the total series of plays. These are the plays you will perfect for a given opponent. Successful football teams use runs that are effective against the op- ponent they are playing. For example, if the defense is coming across the line of scrimmage very hard, you would use the trap series. Against a hard-charging defense, it is easier for an offensive line player to get an angle if a trap is called. Sometimes the defender will take himself out of (overrun) the play; other times he or she can be blocked from the side. Against a reading defense, the dive and sweep would be ef- fective. If the defense stacks the line of scrimmage, you may be better off throwing the ball. The running backs are an integral part of a good running offense. Coach them to gain yardage on every play. They should be competitive and have the desire to be successful. Running backs who are hard to tackle and who keep their feet driving will make you and your team winners.
Figure 2.7 Numbering of holes and backs for flag and touch football.
WR 5 3 BB 1 C 2 BB 4 SR 6 WR
SB 2
QB 1
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38 Catholic Coaching Flag Football Essentials
running Game
HiT THE HOlE
Goal
To move the ball down the field by running the ball.
Description
Play 4 v 3 in a 10-yard-by-10-yard playing area. Stand behind the defensive players to point where the ball is to be run; don’t allow the defense to see where you are pointing. The play begins on one “goal line,” 10 yards from the other “goal line.” A running back, with a ball, is lined up behind three line players. On the running back’s signal, the play begins. The running back runs through the area where you have pointed and attempts to gain as many yards as possible (see figure 2.8). The offense has three chances to score. The next play begins where the ball carrier was tackled. If
10 yards
10 yards
RB
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X
C
O
X X
O O
Figure 2.8 Hit the Hole.
